Study Guide –The Merchant of Venice
Staple these questions to your answers
1. Why is Antonio sad at the beginning of the play? Salerio and Solanio offer two
reasons. Are these reasons the truth?
2. What is Gratiano’s role in the play? What is he really like? (Look at Act 1, Scene
2.)
3. What is the relationship between Antonio and Bassanio? Describe it.
4. Why does Bassanio want to marry Portia? Are his motives pure? Why or why
not?
5. What is Portia’s situation in Act I, Scene 2? How is she treating the suitors? Why
is she doing this?
6. What do the three caskets symbolize? Explain thoroughly.
7. How would you describe Portia’s character?
8. Why does Shylock hate Antonio? See Act I, Scene 3. Do you believe he has a
legitimate reason?
9. Did Anti-Semitism exist in Shakespeare’s day? Why or why not?
10. How does Antonio compromise himself in any way in Act I, Scene 3 when he
agrees to borrow money from Shylock?
11. What is the function of Old Gobbo? See Act II, Scene 2. Who is he?
12. Why does Jessica elope? Do you find her actions credible? What does this action
tell you about Jessica? What does it tell you about her relationship with Shylock?
13. Do you believe Shakespeare presents Shylock as Anti-Semetic? Why or why not?
14. What is the purpose of Act III, Scene 5? Why did Shakespeare put this act in the
play?
15. What effect does Gratiano’s presence have throughout the trial scene?
16. What does Antonio suggest as a resolution to Shylock’ predicament?
17. What is the purpose of Act V? Doesn’t the action really end in Act IV?
18. What does the playwright say about women in Act V?
19. In modern English definition, what is a shylock?
20. What do you think “a pound of flesh” really means?
Essay Questions:
You will be asked to write a short essay explaining one of the following speeches on the
day you return. Carefully read and take notes over the speeches and bring those notes to
class to help you write a close analysis of the speech I choose for you.
1. Shylock’s speech in Act III, Scene 1, lines (“To bait fish withal..”)
2. Portia’s speech in Act IV, Scene 1, lines (“The quality of mercy is not strained.”